US6940472B2 - Universal antenna adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

A universal antenna adapter suitable for engaging with a fixed antenna and a detachable antenna is provided. The universal antenna adapter comprises a circular opening, a latching hook structure and a fixed spring plate. The latching hook structure is set around the circular opening for interfering with a latching spring plate on the fixed antenna. The fixed spring plate is set on an interior surface of the universal antenna adapter. The fixed spring plate engages with an antenna connector of the detachable antenna so that the antenna connector is prevented from moving forward and backward. The latching hook structure comprises a pair of symmetrical split sections for gripping and latching the antenna connector so that the antenna connector is prevented from rotation and up/down movement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an antenna connector. More particularly, the present invention relates to a universal antenna adapter suitable for engaging a fixed antenna as well as a detachable antenna.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wireless radio transmission is one of most common technique for sending and receiving messages. To name few, our radios, wireless televisions, satellite phones, cellular phones and wireless local area network involves radio transmission. All these devices that demand the transmission and reception of radio signals are often referred to as wireless radio devices.

Typically, wireless radio devices uses an antenna to facilitate the transmission or the reception of signals. In general, the antenna used by a wireless radio device can be classified as a built-in antenna and an external antenna. A wireless radio device using an external antenna normally has an antenna connector for engaging with an external antenna. Currently, the most common types of external antennas include the fixed antennas and the detachable antennas. Accordingly, antenna connectors can be classified into fixed antenna connectors and detachable antenna connectors.

At present, a fixed antenna connector accepts the engagement of a fixed antenna and a detachable antenna connector accepts the engagement of a detachable antenna only. Since fixed antennas and detachable antennas cannot be interchangeable, a wireless radio device installed with a fixed antenna connector can only use a fixed antenna. Similarly, a wireless radio device installed with a detachable antenna connector can only use a detachable antenna. With this limitation, mechanical compatibility between the antenna and the wireless radio devices is severely restricted. Furthermore, the manufacturers have to procure one set of molds for producing the fixed antenna connectors and another set of molds for fabricating the detachable antenna connectors leading to an increase in overall production cost.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a universal antenna adapter suitable for engaging with a fixed antenna and a detachable antenna. Hence, a wireless radio device installed with the universal antenna adapter is physically compatible with both types of antennas.

A second object of this invention is to provide a universal antenna adapter suitable for engaging with a fixed antenna and a detachable antenna so that only a single set of molds for fabricating the connector is required.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a universal antenna adapter suitable for engaging with a fixed antenna and a detachable antenna. The universal antenna adapter comprises a body casing, a base plate and a cover plate. One side of the body casing has a circular opening for receiving a circular plug attached to a fixed antenna or an antenna connector of a detachable antenna. A latching hook structure is set on an interior sidewall of the body casing around the circular opening. A latching spring plate is set at the end of the circular plug of the fixed antenna. When the circular plug of the fixed antenna is plugged into the circular opening of the body casing, the latching spring plate and the latching hook structure are locked together so that the fixed antenna is fastened to the universal antenna adapter reliably.

Furthermore, a fixed spring plate structure is set on an interior surface of the body casing for latching with the antenna connector to prevent the antenna connector from moving forward and backward. In addition, the latching structure comprises two detachable but symmetrical sections for gripping and latching with the antenna connector to prevent the antenna connector from rotating and moving up and down. The antenna connector can pass through the circular opening and screw onto one end of the antenna body for engaging the detachable antenna with the universal antenna adapter.

Accordingly, the universal antenna adapter of this invention is suitable not only for engaging with a fixed antenna, but is also suitable for engaging with a detachable antenna. Hence, the wireless radio device installed with this universal antenna adapter has greater mechanical compatibility for antennas. Moreover, only one set of production molds is required so that the production cost of the universal antenna adapter is lower.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a universal antenna adapter according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 2aand2bare perspective views showing the connection structure of a fixed antenna before and after engaging with a universal antenna adapter according to this invention as well as the method of engagement.

FIGS. 3a,3b,3cand3dare perspective views showing the connection structure of a detachable antenna before and after engaging with a universal antenna adapter according to this invention as well as the method of engagement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

This invention provides a universal antenna adapter suitable not only for engaging with a fixed antenna but also for engaging with a detachable antenna. The universal antenna adapter can be installed on a wireless radio device or can be formed as a part of a wireless radio device. The universal antenna adapter comprises a fixed antenna connection structure and a detachable antenna connection structure so that a fixed antenna may engage with the fixed antenna connection structure while a detachable antenna may engage with the detachable antenna connection structure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a universal antenna adapter according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. Theuniversal antenna adapter10 inFIG. 1 comprises acasing body12, abase plate14 and acover plate16. One side of thecasing body12 has acircular opening18 for receiving a circular plug on a fixed antenna (detailed description later) or permitting a main body of a detachable antenna to pass through and screw onto an antenna connector (detail description later). Thebase plate14 and thecover plate16 are located on opposite sides of thecasing body12 so that thecasing body12 is tightly gripped between them. Theuniversal antenna adapter10 can be installed on a wireless radio device or can be formed as a part of a wireless radio device.

FIGS. 2aand2bare perspective views showing the connection structure of a fixed antenna before and after engaging with a universal antenna adapter according to this invention as well as the method of engagement. As shown inFIG. 2b, the fixedantenna connection structure38 is used for joining afixed antenna20 to theuniversal antenna adapter10. The fixedantenna connection structure38 comprises alatching spring plate202 and alatching hook structure122 as shown inFIG. 2a.

Thecircular plug22 of thefixed antenna20 has a pair of opposinglongitudinal slots34. In the presence of thelongitudinal slots34, one end of thecircular plug22 is joined together to form an integrated section while the other end of thecircular plug22 is split into an element with two equal sections. Utilizing the flexibility of side deflection of each split section, thecircular plug22 can be easily pushed into the opening12 of thecasing body12. Thelatching spring plate202 is set at the very end of the split section of thecircular plug22. The end of each split section may have aspring plate202. Alternatively, onespring plate202 may be attached to one of the split section only. Thelatching structure122 is formed on an interior sidewall of thecasing body12 surrounding thecircular opening18. Thelatching structure122 may comprises two symmetrically oriented split sections. When the split sections of thecircuit plug22 is inserted into thecircular opening18, the latchingspring plate202 also passes through the opening28 and the latchinghook structure122. Thespring plate202 clicks onto the latchinghook structure122 so that the fixedantenna20 and theuniversal antenna adapter10 are locked in position.

For the aforementioned fixedantenna connector structure38, the interior surface of the ring structure around theopening18 of thecasing12 has a plurality of equally graduatedgrooves124. A markingspring plate206 is also installed on thecircular plug22 of the fixedantenna20. Furthermore, a markingedge208 is set on the surface at the movable end of the markingspring plate206. Therefore, when the fixedantenna20 rotates, the markingedge208 may interfere with the graduated grooves in sequence so that a sense of graduated movement is produced through the markingspring plate206.

In addition, anangle limiting spine204 may also be attached to the surface of thecircular plug22. With the limitingspine204 in place, rotation of thecircular plug22 will be stopped when thespine204 comes into contact with the split symmetrical sections of the latchingstructure122. Hence, the fixedantenna20 is set to rotate within an angle delimited by the two symmetrically split sections of the latchinghook structure122.

FIGS. 3a,3b,3cand3dare perspective views showing the connection structure of a detachable antenna before and after engaging with a universal antenna adapter according to this invention as well as the method of engagement. As shown inFIGS. 3aand3b, the detachableantenna connection structure40 is used for joining adetachable antenna42 to auniversal antenna adapter10. Thedetachable antenna42 comprises an antennamain body422 and anantenna connector424.

The detachable antenna connection structure has a fixedspring plate structure126. The free end of the fixedspring plate structure126 can deform elastically (as shown inFIG. 3c, in connection withFIGS. 3aand3b). The fixedspring plate structure126 is set on an interior surface of thecasing body12 for latching with theantenna connector424. The interior surface where thecircular opening18 is positioned and the interior surface for holding the fixedspring plate structure126 are perpendicular to each other. Through elastic deformation of the fixedspring plate structure126 and subsequent return to its original position, theantenna connector424 can easily slide into the circular opening18 (as shown inFIG. 3c, in connection withFIGS. 3aand3b) and lock inside thebody casing12. In other words, aside from locking theantenna connector424 inside theuniversal antenna adapter10, the fixedspring plate structure126 also prevents theantenna connector424 from moving backward and forward.

As shown inFIGS. 3aand3b, the split symmetrical sections of the latchingstructure122 around thecircular opening18 area is used for gripping and latching theantenna connector424 so that theantenna connector424 is prevented from rotation and up/down movement. At this stage, theantenna connector424 may be pushed into thecircular opening18 and locked to one end of the antennamain body422 using a screw so that thedetachable antenna42 and theuniversal antenna adapter10 are joined together. Conversely, the antennamain body422 of thedetachable antenna42 may be unscrewed from theantenna connector424 so that thedetachable antenna42 is pulled away from theuniversal antenna adapter10 at any time.

Furthermore, as shown inFIGS. 3d,3aand3b, a fixedblocking wall162 is erected on the interior surface of thecover plate16 of theuniversal antenna adapter10. After assembling thecover plate16 and thecasing body12 together, the fixedblocking wall162 faces thecircular opening18 and contacts theantenna connector424 of thedetachable antenna42. Thus, the forward and backward movement of theantenna connector424 is further constrained.

In summary, theuniversal antenna adapter10 is suitable for engaging with a fixedantenna20 as well as adetachable antenna42. In other words, theuniversal antenna adapter10 encompasses the advantage of an easy installation and a firm attachment for a fixedantenna20 and the advantage of repetitive assembling/disassembling for adetachable antenna42. Moreover, a wireless radio device having theuniversal antenna adapter10 has a greater compatibility for antennas so that the application range of the wireless radio device is expanded. In addition, only one set of molds is required so that the cost for producing the universal antenna adapter is reduced.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (7)

1. A universal antenna a adapter for engaging with a detachable antenna, wherein the detachable antenna has an antenna body and an antenna connector, the universal antenna adapter comprising:

a circular opening for permitting one end of the antenna connector of the detachable antenna to pass through and engage with the antenna main body;

a latching hook structure set around the circular opening, wherein the latching hook structure clicks onto the antenna connector of the detachable antenna to prevent the antenna connector from rotation or up/down movement after inserting one end of the antenna connector through the circular opening; and

a fixed spring plate set as a split latching hook structure such that the antenna connector is prevented from moving forward or backward after clicking onto the latching hook structure.

2. The universal antenna adapter ofclaim 1 wherein the adapter further comprises:

a body casing having at least two interior surfaces, wherein the circular opening is set on one interior surface and the fixed spring plate is set on the other interior surface; and

a cover plate and a base plate for gripping the casing body.

3. The universal antenna adapter ofclaim 2, wherein the adapter further comprises a fixed blocking wall set on the cover plate for limiting the forward and backward movement of the antenna connector.

4. The universal antenna adapter ofclaim 3, wherein the fixed blocking wall faces the circular opening after the casing body is gripped between the cover plate and the base plate.

5. The universal antenna adapter ofclaim 2, wherein the interior surface with the circular opening and the interior surface with the fixed spring plate are perpendicular to each other.

6. The universal antenna adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the fixed spring plate deforms elastically to allow the passage of one end of the antenna connector through the circular opening and then snaps back automatically to lock the antenna connector and the latching hook structure together.

7. The universal antenna adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the main body of the detachable antenna passes through the circular opening and fastens to the antenna connector using screws.

Images